Poker game

ABSTRACT

In a poker game, two or more players play against the house, each player placing a first bet to enter the game. Two cards are then dealt face-down to each player and two cards are dealt face-down to the house. Three common cards are then dealt face-up. If the player decides to continue with the game on the basis of the two cards dealt face-down to him and the three cards dealt face-up, he then places a further “call” bet. Two further common cards are then dealt face-up. A first bet is decided by comparing the best hand of five cards from the two cards dealt to the player and five common cards with the two cards dealt to the house and five common cards, the higher ranking poker hand winning. A second bet is then decided by comparing blackjack hands made up of two the two cards dealt to the player plus optional additional cards and two further cards dealt to the dealer plus optional additional cards.

[0001] The present invention relates to a casino house game which is a variant of five card stud poker.

[0002] Stud poker is a popular game, in casinos and the game has been adapted over the years to evolve new variants such as “Hold'em” and “Omaha”. Hitherto, with such games and variants, the player plays against fellow players, rather than the casino.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,025 discloses a variant of stud poker in which three or more hands are dealt and the players are able to bet on whichever of the hands they believe will win.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a method of playing a poker game in which each player plays against a dealer.

[0005] This game requires a certain degree of skill and decision making which in turn makes the game challenging and interesting.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of playing a poker game comprises the steps of:

[0007] dealing two cards face-down to a player and two cards face-down to the house;

[0008] dealing three common cards face-up;

[0009] if the player decides to continue with the hand dealt to him, dealing two further common cards face-up;

[0010] comparing poker hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the player and the five common cards, with the two cards dealt to the house and five common cards; and

[0011] comparing blackjack hands made up of two the two cards dealt to the player plus optional additional cards and two further cards dealt to the dealer plus optional additional cards.

[0012] According to the preferred embodiment of the game, the player is required to place bets on the poker and blackjack hands before being dealt two cards face-down, The player is then preferably required to place a further bet to indicate that he wishes to proceed with the game, before the final two common cards are dealt.

[0013] The result of the game is decided on the conventional ranking of poker and blackjack hands. If however the house's hand is below a predetermined minimum value, the house forfeits the game, paying out on the player's initial bet.

[0014] The minimum qualifying hand for the house may be of any specified rank, but will typically be a pair of fours.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the game, if the player wins the poker bet, the house would pay out odds, at least on the player's initial bet, depending on the rank of the player's hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1 which illustrates the layout of a gaming table cloth 10, the gaming cloth 10 is marked with areas 12 in which cards from a conventional pack of playing cards may be dealt to one or more players; an area 14 in which cards may be dealt to a dealer, and an area 16 marked ‘flop’ in which common cards may be dealt.

[0017] A first betting box 18 marked ‘ante’ is provided for each player, a second betting box 20 marked ‘call’ and a third box 22, is provided for each player.

[0018] Before the play, the player places bets in the boxes 18 and 22. The dealer, on behalf of the house, then deals two cards in areas 12 to each player and two cards in area 14 to himself. All cards are dealt face-down.

[0019] The dealer then deals three common ‘community’ cards face-up in area 16.

[0020] If the players decide to continue with the game, then they place a bet, of double their initial bet, in the box 18 marked ‘call’. Alternatively, the player may pass their hand and lose the bet placed in box 18.

[0021] Two further cards are then dealt face-up in area 16.

[0022] Each player then selects five cards from the two dealt to him in area 12 and the five cards in area 16 to achieve the best poker hand on the basis of the conventional poker ranking. Poker Ranking Hand Example Royal Flush A, K, Q, J, 10(suited) Straight Flush 7, 8, 9, 10, J(suited) Four of a Kind 3, 3, 3, 3, K Full House 7, 7, 7, Q, Q Straight 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(unsuited) Three of a Kind 10, 10, 10, 7, 3 Two Pair A, A, 7, 7, J One Pair 5, 5, K, J, 7 High Card in Hand A, K, 7, 5, 3(unsuited)

[0023] The players best poker hand is then compared with the best poker hand made up from the two cards dealt face-down to the dealer in area 14 and five cards in area 16 to decide the winner.

[0024] If however the dealer's hand is lower than a pair of fours, he fails to qualify and pays the bets placed in box 18 of all the players who are still in the game.

[0025] If the dealer's hand is a pair of fours or better and he loses to a player then he pays the player's bets in boxes 18 and 20 at even money. If however the dealer's hand is higher than the player's hand then he takes the player's bets from both boxes 18 and 20.

[0026] In a variation of the game, if the player's hand is better than the dealer's hand, the house will pay odds on the players “ante” bet, for example, on the basis of the following lists. Odds Hand Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Straight Flush 20 to 1 20 to 1  50 to 1 Four of a Kind 10 to 1 5 to 1 20 to 1 Full House  3 to 1 3 to 1  2 to 1 Flush  2 to 1 2 to 1  6 to 4

[0027] After comparison of the poker hands, the bet placed in box 22 is decided on the basis of blackjack hands formed from the two cards dealt to each player in area 12 and two further cards dealt to the dealer in area 14, one card being face-up and the other card face down. The additional bet being decided on the basis of the two cards plus optional additional cards, the value of the cards totalling 21 or under in accordance with conventional blackjack rules.

[0028] While in the accompanying drawing five positions are provided for players, any number of players may play the game, each player playing against the dealer.

[0029] The above described game may also be adapted for Internet entertainment and video slot machines. It could furthermore be stored on a disk and played on a computer or interactive television. 

1. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of playing a poker game comprises the steps of: dealing two cards face-down to a player and two cards face-down to the house; dealing three common cards face-up; if the player decides to continue with the hand dealt to him, dealing two further common cards face-up; comparing poker hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the player and the five common cards, with the two cards dealt to the house and five common cards; and comparing blackjack hands made up of two the two cards dealt to the player plus optional additional cards and two further cards dealt to the dealer plus optional additional cards.
 2. A method according to claim 1 in which the player is required to place bets before being dealt two cards face-down.
 3. A method according to claim 2 in which the player is required to place a further bet before the final two common cards are dealt.
 4. A method according to claim 1 in which the poker hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.
 5. A method according to claim 1 in which if the house's hand is below a predetermined value the house forfeits the game.
 6. A method according to claim 5 in which if the house's hand is below a pair of fours, the house forfeits the game.
 7. A method according to claim 1 in which if the player wins, the house pays odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.
 8. A method according to claim 7 in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1  Four of a Kind 10 to 1  Full House 3 to 1 Flush  2 to
 1.


9. A method according to claim 7 in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1  Four of a Kind 5 to 1 Full House 3 to 1 Flush  2 to
 1.


10. A method according to claim 7 in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 50 to 1  Four of a Kind 20 to 1  Full House 2 to 1 Flush  6 to
 4.


11. A method of playing a poker game according to claim 1 in which one or more players may play against the house.
 12. A method of playing a poker game comprising the steps of: a player placing a first and second bets; a dealer dealing two cards face-down to the player and two cards face-down to the dealer; the dealer also dealing three common cards face-up; the player placing a third bet if he wishes to continue or forgoing his first bet if he does not wish to continue; upon placement of the second bet, the dealer dealing two further common cards face-up; comparing poker hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the player and five common cards with the two cards dealt to the dealer and five common cards, to decide the winner of the first bet, the player losing his first and third bets if the dealer wins and the dealer paying out on the first and third bets if the player wins; the dealer then dealing two further cards to the dealer; and comparing blackjack hands made up from the two cards dealt to the player plus additional optional cards and the two additional cards dealt to the dealer plus additional optional cards, the decide the second bet.
 13. A method according to claim 12 in which the hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.
 14. A method according to claim 12 in which if the dealer's hand is below a predetermined value he forfeits the game and pays out on the player's first bet only.
 15. A method according to claim 12 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.
 16. A method according to claim 15 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1  Four of a Kind 10 to 1  Full House 3 to 1 Flush  2 to
 1.


17. A method according to claim 15 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1  Four of a Kind 5 to 1 Full House 3 to 1 Flush  2 to
 1.


18. A method according to claim 15 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 50 to 1  Four of a Kind 20 to 1  Full House 2 to 1 Flush  6 to
 4.


19. A method according to claim 12 in which one of the additional cards dealt to the dealer is dealt face down, the other card being dealt face up.
 20. A method according to claim 12 in which a forth bet may be placed, the forth bet being decided on whether a the poker hand formed from the two cards dealt to the player and first three cards dealt to the flop, equals or betters a predetermined value.
 21. A method according to claim 20 in which the predetermined value is a pair of aces. 